In the heart of Wichita’s Delano neighborhood, community shock turned to sorrow Monday night when 28-year-old Jon Berkenmeier was found fatally stabbed inside an apartment complex on the 400 block of West Maple Street. That block sits near McLean Avenue and Equity Bank Park, a place usually quiet this time of evening.
Police say dispatch received the call around 8:41 p.m. and officers rushed to the scene where they discovered Berkenmeier with severe stab wounds. First responders began life-saving efforts immediately, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Those early moments, police said, were chaotic and heartbreaking for everyone involved.
A 25-year-old Wichita man, known to Berkenmeier, was detained at the scene and later arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder. Authorities have said the suspect will be formally reviewed by the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for possible charges. While the suspect’s name hasn’t been released publicly, police confirmed the two had an existing connection.
In a detail that highlights how technology is reshaping emergency responses, the Wichita Police Department’s Drone as First Responder unit was the first to arrive overhead. That unit provided real-time aerial video to ground officers, helping them understand the scene quickly and coordinate their response. It’s a tool police officials say made a real difference in initial situational awareness.
Berkenmeier’s death has left a hole in the lives of family, friends and neighbors. Those who knew him describe Jon as a warm presence with a full life ahead—someone whose sudden passing feels especially cruel because it came without warning. Community members have been gathering, sharing memories and offering comfort to each other in the days since.
The Wichita Police Department continues to investigate and is urging anyone who might have seen something or has information to come forward. Tips can be shared with WPD Investigations at 316-268-4407, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.
For those in Delano and beyond, the pain of this loss resonates beyond the police reports and statistics. In a city still shivering from winter’s grip, neighbors are lighting candles, holding each other close, and struggling to make sense of a life cut far too short.
